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Three points the best cure for Sky Blues' ills - Corica

Sebastian Hassett

Ready for a fight … caretaker coach Steve Corica lays down the law at Sydney FC training on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images

SYDNEY FC might be on the tail-end of the most demoralising fortnight in the club's history but caretaker coach Steve Corica insists they head into Friday's match against Brisbane Roar feeling that a win is the only acceptable result.

The Sky Blues were humiliated 7-2 by Central Coast two weeks ago before losing 3-2 to Melbourne Victory in dramatic circumstances at Allianz Stadium, leading coach Ian Crook to hand in his resignation on Sunday, citing overwhelming pressure as the primary reason for giving up the coveted position.

That leaves Sydney in eighth place with two wins and four losses - a most unflattering scenario given what was promised at the start of the year after the signature of marquee star Alessandro Del Piero. Yet Brisbane, the two-time defending champions, also have plenty to prove to their own fans given that they sit at the foot of the table.

''They've had three losses in a row and we've had two, so we're fighting - both teams are going to be fighting for victory,'' Corica said after training at Macquarie University on Thursday. ''We're not going there for one point, we're going there for three points. We need to get a win.''

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While the necessity of points for both sides will ensure a feisty contest, the history of last season - especially the infamous clash between Sydney's Pascal Bosschaart and Brisbane's Besart Berisha - is sure to create tension this time around.

''I think it's still in the back of the mind, of course,'' Corica said. ''We had that game wrapped up [Sydney lost 2-1 following two late goals], again, like last week, so that's something we have to look at and not to concede late goals, which we have done in the past.''

Corica insists he's not interested in the full-time job and that he's still getting his head around what it takes to coach. ''It's a big club, it's a great job for anyone, whether it be an Australian coach or one from overseas,'' he said. ''I'm happy with my job as an assistant. I've still got a lot to learn and hopefully they can bring the right person for me to learn from. At times things haven't been pretty in terms of the way we've played but that's the club's job to find the right man to pull things in the right direction.''

The good news for Sydney is that lively young forward Joel Chianese is back after over a month out with injury but midfielder Jason Culina will be left to make his debut next week.

''He played 90 minutes in the youth team but obviously he needs a little bit of time after that. That's the first 90 minutes he's played for two years,'' Corica said. ''His body needs a rest and maybe next week is the right time for him.''

After suffering a pre-season blighted by setbacks, Chianese managed to get himself fit for the first game of the season in Wellington, only to tear his quadriceps, keeping him out until now.

''I had a few little injury concerns. I probably rushed back a bit too quick and re-injured both quads,'' he said. ''Everything is feeling OK now but there was definitely a frustrating period. I'm excited to be back out on the park, whether I get 10 minutes or 30 minutes off the bench. Everything is going well now.''

While Chianese enjoyed an incredible surge to fame late last year, scoring six goals in nine matches, he's aware the good form of Yairo Yau might make it hard for him to be Del Piero's partner in attack.

''Obviously once you haven't played in a while you have to fight to win your spot back,'' he said. ''I guess I did that last season - I wasn't in the squad for almost the whole year until the last few rounds, did my best and went on from there. We've got a top forward line and there's a lot of pressure but it makes you perform at training and in games.''